The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

Donna Jo wrote: "Finished:

30.1 Roseann's task
Present job (actually retired from job) Librarian:
[book:The Quest for the Tr..."

It's good for us all that you know your limitations >luvluv<

Finished Task 25.5 by reading Fortune's Daughter by Alice Hoffman. I give it 2 stars, at best.
This was the longest pregnancy in literary history. The younger main character needed therapy and/or strength to get rid of her loser boyfriend and the older main character was in need of a lot of therapy. There was a lot of meandering into the past without any resolutions in the present.
Not my cup of tea, I suppose. I just wanted to shake both characters a few times.

Total points: 160

Hi Cynthia.

I'm not sure if you did an update between yesterday and today? If so, you possibly missed my post (page 26, #1289).

Thanks so much!

Jennifer D. (Canada)

Finally reporting...
5.6 McSweeney's Enchanted Chamber of Astonishing Stories
10.2 Methland The Death and Life of an American Small Town

I have finished 4 more, but will be using them for multi-book items. Hopefully :)

Total: 15 points

I have finished...

Task 5.3 with The Princess Bride by William Goldman

Donna Jo's Task (25.2) with Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.

Tasks Completed: 15
Total Points: 215
Total Pages: 5997

New points for me!

For task 15.1 (the homophone challenge), I read

Prophet, by Frank E. Peretti AND
The Sweet Potato Queens' Guide to Raising Children for Fun and Profit, by Jill Connor Brown

The words were Prophet and Profit.

This brings me to 45 points.

Amanda R. in Louisville

15. 4.Science Fact vs. Science Fiction
• Read A Science Fiction Novel And Watch A Film Related To Science Or Scientific Discovery.
OR • Read A Non-Fiction Book About Science And Watch A Science-Fiction Film.
Mythbusters DVD season 5
WYRMS by Card
15 points
310

5.6 Read Full DARK House. Dark being an adjective for Halloween.

Total points: 100

I have finished another task:

Task 25.4 — Candace — Book vs Movie: If Only It Were True (2000) by Marc Levy (9/25/09) and Just Like Heaven (2005) (9/8/09)

And now I'm supposed to review and tell which I liked better? Hmmm... Well, here's a link to my review, which has LOTS of spoilers for both movie and book. Here's a excerpt, which I tried very hard not to make TOO spoilery:

In summary, I liked:
*The character names better in the MOVIE. (Elizabeth and David vs Lauren and Arthur)
*The mystery of who she was and what she was doing there better in the MOVIE.
*The bickering dialog better in the MOVIE.
*The addition of Jon Heder's character in the MOVIE, of course! ;)
*How they fall in love better in the BOOK.
*The body-snatching part better in the BOOK.
*The "rules"/"physics" of spirits in the BOOK.
*How they explained her coming out of a coma in the MOVIE.
*The ending... it's a TIE, although they're very different.

Overall, which did I like better? Mmm... probably the MOVIE. But the book is definitely worth reading.

(Did I mention that I finished Scary Beautiful by Niki Burnham (9/22/09) for Task 5.6?)

CURRENT STATS
Tasks Completed: 17/45
Tasks Partially Completed: 4
Books Read: 23/60
Pages Read: 7,415
Points Earned: 200/690

Jennifer wrote: "Hi Cynthia.

I'm not sure if you did an update between yesterday and today? If so, you possibly missed my post (page 26, #1289).

Thanks so much!

Jennifer D. (Canada)

"Sorry I haven't had a chance to do updating as much as would like the last couple weeks because I've been working a lot (staff out sick so I've been filling in) which was good for my bank account but I've had less free time than I normally do but I should have it all up to date soon.

Matthew wrote: "Finished 15.2 - Rewriting history with The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

New Points:15
Old Points:115
Total points:130
Tasks In progress:4
Pages Read:4273
Total Books read:11
"The other part of this task was to explain whether the world would be better if history occurred as it does in the book - without that I can't credit you for the task.

Maggie wrote: "I completed 5.2, 10.4 and 15.4 to bring my total to 65 points. Thanks!

Read:
5 Points
2 Apple Cover or Title: Garden Spells, Sarah Addison Allen

10 Points
3. Children’s Books: Lyle, Lyle, Croc..."The movie you chose seems more like travel than science so I can't really give you credit on that - if you can explain the science aspect of it I might reconsider though.

Finished 20.2 - the alphabet challenge - used A, B, &C

A - Adam by Ted Dekker (400 pages) A riveting psychological thriller about a serial killer. Included multiple near-death experiences and an absolutely unexpected ending.

B - The Book Thief by Markus Zuzak (552 pages) The best book I have read this year. A wonderfully written story of a young girl in Nazi Germany who wants to preserve books. Tells of the common German people who tried to survive during the holocaust. The book was narrated by "death" which made for an unusual and very poignant tone. Definitely 5 stars.

C - City of God by Beverly Swerling (525 pages) A very well-researched and well-written historical fiction of the development of New York City during the mid 1800's just prior to the Civil War. A good read for those who like "living history".

Points: 175
Books: 16
Pages: 5799
Tasks: 15
In Proc: 5

Helen wrote: "Finished 20.2 - the alphabet challenge - used A, B, &C

A - Adam by Ted Dekker (400 pages) A riveting psychological thriller about a serial killer. Included multiple near-death experiences and ..."Have you read the others in her City Series

City of Dreams A Novel of Early Manhattan & City of Glory A Novel of War and Desire in Old Manhattan - they are equally wonderful if you haven't.

Sara ♥ wrote: "I have finished another task:

Task 25.4 — Candace — Book vs Movie: If Only It Were True (2000) by Marc Levy (9/25/09) and Just Like Heaven (2005) (9/8/09)

And now I'm supposed to re..."Yes you did report 5.6

I'm going to add a note on the leaderboard with the number of the last post that I've gotten to so that everyone will know where I stopped off at - that way if points are wrong you'll know if I just haven't gotten to that update or if I missed something.

Cynthia wrote: "I'm going to add a note on the leaderboard with the number of the last post that I've gotten to so that everyone will know where I stopped off at - that way if points are wrong you'll know if I jus..."

Awesome, Cynthia. I know that spreadsheets are wonderful, but I still am amazed that you keep track of us all so well.

No kidding!

Cynthia wrote: ""Sorry I haven't had a chance to do updating as much as would like the last couple weeks because I've been working a lot..."

No worries Cynthia. I don't know how you manage as it is!! I appreciate all of the work you put in to this group!!

:)

Tara wrote: "5.6 Read Full DARK House. Dark being an adjective for Halloween.

Total points: 100"

Thanks for the nudge - I have this book on my shelf & now I have a place to fit it in!!

Completed Task 10.6 (Native American): Coyote Blue - Christopher Moore

I gave this book 3 stars. Not my favorite of his, but still enjoyable. I have yet to meet a Christopher Moore book that I didn't like.


Total Points: 110/690
Books Read: 19/60
Tasks Completed: 10/45
Pages Read: 6,222

25.6. BJ ROSE'S TASK - Following The “Curse Of Tippecanoe” ... The Curse Of Tippecanoe Is Attributed To The Prophet, The Brother Of The Famous Shawnee Leader, Tecumseh. On His Deathbed, the Prophet Cursed William Henry Harrison and the Office of the President. He Said Harrison Would Be Elected President, But Would Die Soon After Taking Office, And Every Twenty Years After Harrison A President Will Die In Office... 1920 - Warren G. Harding - Died In 1923 During His First Term

The Shadow of Blooming Grove Warren G. Harding in His Times by Francis Russell

Looking at Harding's ancestors and progeny as well as among his colleagues and friends, the author discusses not just the Teapot Dome scandal over oil leases, but sexual misconduct (including an alledged illegitimate child) and rumors of miscegenation in Harding's family tree and murder of the president and his wife. The main difference between Harding and his succesors to the presidency is the speed of communication. The scandals were only starting to be uncovered at the time of his death. The lawsuits stretched on for years. Now we hear the allegations and are subjected to "independent" investigations for the entirety of the term of office as well as the lawsuits that drag on forever.

Finished:
10.2 The Man With the Golden Arm Library Edition by Nelson Algren.
I've never read Algren before. While the subject matter was tawdry, the prose was wonderful. If you enjoy a writer who writes poetical prose this is a good one. Plus the edition (1976/1978) I read included a great "Appreciation of Nelson Algren by Studs Turkel".

Well in between everything else I have managed to read a few books and finish another task...since I last reported I've read 4 books.

I read Fireflies in December by Jennifer Erin Valent - this was for half of task 15.1 (in being my preposition) - it was a very good historical fiction book set in Virginia during the 1930's about a farm family who take in the the daughter of people who had worked for them when her parents are killed and what happens to them as a result of the it (the family being white and the daughter black and it being the south you can imagine how well that went over). It's a heartbreaking story that would work really well for the Christian fiction task as well if you are still looking for a book on that task.

After that I read 3 books my my favorite author Diana Gabaldon...
Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade - it was a very good book that I enjoyed even more than the first Lord John book. And I have to say I'm SOOOOOOOO glad I read it when I did because details of this story do resurface in her newest book (which I will exalt in a moment) and thus made the more interesting. I read this book for the person part of the person/place/thing task.

A Breath of Snow and Ashes came next - This was a re-read but knowing what happens did not damper my enthusiasm for this or any of the other re-readings of this series that I've done in the last 2 months - I loved it just as much as I had the first time I read it 2 years ago. This book primed me for the book I've been waiting for ever since I read the last page of ABOSAA the first time - that book being An Echo in the Bone.

I think Claire says it best when I say JESUS H. ROOSEVELT CHRIST THIS BOOK WAS GOOD...I LOVED EVERY BIT OF IT. I am actually still a bit shell shocked for lack of a better term having just finished the book only a few minutes ago. It was well worth waiting 2 years for (I know some people have waited a good deal longer seeing as the last book was actually published 4 years ago - I don't know how you have managed it).

I don't want to give anything away because I know quite a few members of this group who do read this series. I found myself both in tears and screaming at it at varying points. And I will also say that I will probably in all likelyhood go mad if I do have to wait 4 years for the next installment - seeing as there is a rather big cliffhanger at the end of this one.

At times I wanted to devour this book with great speed but also felt the need to take my time and savor it BECAUSE I don't know when I'll be reading about characters who have become almost as real to me as my own friends and family. This book will as it's title indicates - leave an echo in my bones for years to come.

I read it for the second half of the math task - this being the 7th book in the series and 7 being on of my two numbers. I read it with The Last Song for the addition task.

13 TASKS COMPLETE - 4 PARTIALLY DONE
24 BOOK READ
9, 213 PAGES READ


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Finished 10.9 March by Geraldine Brooks

I've finished the Pirate's Daughter for the first 5 point task (son daughter child)

3 tasks ongoing at the moment.

Janice wrote: "25.6. BJ ROSE'S TASK - Following The “Curse Of Tippecanoe” ... The Curse Of Tippecanoe Is Attributed To The Prophet, The Brother Of The Famous Shawnee Leader, Tecumseh. On His Deathbed, the Proph..."

I knew none of this, thanks for sharing it with us.

Cynthia wrote: "I'm going to add a note on the leaderboard with the number of the last post that I've gotten to so that everyone will know where I stopped off at - that way if points are wrong you'll know if I jus..."

You ROCK : ) I have a hard enough time keeping up with my tasks and books.

You do an EXCEPTIONAL job of tracking the points and answering all the questiosn.

Finished The Bone Doll's Twin by Lynn Flewelling for Janice's task 25.5. I really enjoyed this book and now will have to look for the sequal to find out what happens. This brings my total to 115 points.

Cynthia wrote: "Well in between everything else I have managed to read a few books and finish another task...since I last reported I've read 4 books.

I read Fireflies in December by [author:Jennif..."

I am on the waitlist for the new Gabaldon book--somewhere I was thinking this was going to be the last in the series and while that made me sad, I was glad that I would not have to wait for the next one yet again--I hate when I find a good series that is not completed yet. Oh well. At some point, I'm going to have to reread the whole series, but I don't know when I'll find the time committment to do that!

15.6 completed - Read a book and see the play...
I read 'Phantom of the Opera' by Gaston Leroux and also took my daughter to see the play on Broadway. Loved both of them.

Completed another task -

25.3 - WENDY'S TASK - Harvey Milk - The Funny Thing Is... by Ellen DeGeneres (Audiobook)

Total Books Read = 20
Tasks Completed = 14
Tasks In Progress = 7

Just completed task 25.7 by reading the following three books:

Kept A Victorian Mystery, by D.J Taylor
Eleven Hours, by Paullina Simons
The Death Pit, by Tony Strong

Ok. Finished another multi-book task: 15.8 My Initials are B and M. Mongolia: The Bloody White Baron by James Palmer and B: Britain Beyond Seduction by Emma Holly.

New total: 175

10 point task
8. You'll Find It In The Dictionary - Noah Webster Was Born October 16, 1758 - In Honor Of Him Visit The Random Word Generator Website And Then Read A Book Whose Title Contains The 9th, 10th, or 11th Word You Come To.
How Dumb Are You?: The Great American Stupidity Quiz by Adam Winer

Current Point Total: 35
Jessica (MI)

25.4 Candace's Task--Twilight by Stephanie Meyer



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10.2 Book about Addiction - Go Ask Alice by Anonymous.

Total Points: 385/690
Books Read: 42 (+ 8 Berenstain Bears books)
Tasks Completed: 28/45
Tasks in Progress: 6


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I'm a newby to the challenges but I'm learning some strategies reading all your posts : )

I'm still working on my first one. And don't have as much time to read as I would like so my goal is to finish 10 of the challenges by the end rather than to finish the whole thing this first time out.

5.8 fifth horseman james patterson and maxin paetro

new total 300

it's been a while...grrrr.

I just completed Task 5.2 by reading Teach Me. I wanted to like it a lot more than I actually did. Maybe it just creeped me out a bit too much. I did enjoy the writing style and the voice of the main character, Nine, was very distinct and original.


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Finished 5.1 with The Children on the Top Floor by Noel Streatfeild.

TOTAL POINTS: 165
COMPLETED TASKS: 13
TOTAL BOOKS: 22
PAGES READ: 4,763

Completed task 5.1 by reading The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards.

I was actually really dissapointed in the book. The premise was great but I felt so much more could have been done with the storyline, and I had a hard time empathizing with the characters.

Books Read: 6
Pages Read: 2,096
Total Points: 50

Matthew wrote: "Fought with myself for a long time about where I should place this novel, and finally decided that The 13.5 lives of Captain Bluebear by Walter Moers belongs in 10.5 - Germany

New points:10
Old..."

Matthew - what did you think of this? i just finished it a few days ago and really enjoyed it. Thought it could have been about 250 pages shorter, but I thought it was really creative and was a nice escape

Rebecca wrote: "Finished a task (and since this was not what I intended to read, I've counted them as 1 book) I remember these books - they will always be personal favorites of mine!

Books are as follows:
10...." Did you know there is going to be a movie "Cloudy with a chance of meatballs" I'm very excited. I loved that book when I was younger.

Finished 15-10 with 'Anne of Avonlea' by L.M. Montgomery and 'The Best School Year Ever' by Barbara Robinson.

I first read all of the Grren Gables books in 8th grade-23 years ago! It was wonderful to revisit Avonlea again!

Best School Year Ever is actually a juvenile book that I bought for my classroom library, it's a cute read and has well over the page limit requirement-it was a fun read.

120 points

Lacy wrote: "Did you know there is going to be a movie "Cloudy with a chance of meatballs" I'm very excited. I loved that book when I was younger ..."

Did you also see that they've made a movie of "Where the Wild Things Are"?

20.7 one,two,three title

Evermore 5 stars

Die Trying

The Lost Symbol
new total

320

Finished 5-3 with 'Diary of a U-boat Commander' by anon, really great book! I read in on Gutenberg, what a fantastic resource that is!

Having a very productive Saturday cleaning up some unfinished books!

125 points

20.1 Most Improved Player - Julie KS - The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis. Very thought-provoking and fascinating read about Heaven and Hell and making the right choices.

Total Points: 405/690
Books Read: 43 (+ 8 Berenstain Bears books)
Tasks Completed: 29/45
Tasks in Progress: 6


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Read Sebastian of Mars by Al Sarrantonio and watched an episode of The Universe on the History Channel for 15.4

NEW POINTS:15
OLD POINTS:155
TOTAL POINTS:170

TASKS IN PROGRESS:2
TASKS COMPLETED:12
BOOKS READ:14
PAGES READ:4982

For 10.2 (addiction), I read Go Ask Alice by Anonymous (whatever!).

What did I like about this book? I liked the entry about going to a party and having to bring the gelatin salad. Teehee. My mom used to have an old Jell-O cookbook and I remember flipping through it and cracking up. Orange Jell-O mold with boiled cabbage and mini marshmallows. Yummy!

Total Points: 180

20.2. ROOKIE OF THE SEASON-ERIN Read 3 Books That Begin With A,B,C Or Any Three Consecutive Letters In The Alphabet.
Knocked Out by My Nunga-Nungas: Further, Further Confessions of Georgia Nicolson by Louise Rennison-9/7 (173 pgs)
Little Face by Sophie Hannah-9/25 (310 pgs)
Midnight: A Gangster Love Story by Sister Souljah-9/13 (498 pgs)

New Total: 95 points